How much does an electrical engineer make in California?
$144,000a year
Median yearly pay for electrical engineers in California. That is $69.25 an hour or $12,000 a month.
- Hourly
- $69.25
- Vs. national median
- +19%
- Rank among states
- 2 of 49
- Jobs in the state
- 24,230
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $81,840Median: $144,000Highest 10%: $217,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,840 | $39.35 | |
| 25th | $106,100 | $51.01 | |
| Median | $144,000 | $69.25 | |
| 75th | $185,500 | $89.19 | |
| 90th | $217,800 | $104.69 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Jose, CA | $187,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $166,000 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $164,900 |
| Vallejo, CA | $160,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $139,800 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $136,200 |
| Sacramento, CA | $136,200 |
| Fresno, CA | $134,800 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $134,600 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $133,600 |
| Stockton, CA | $131,100 |
| Oxnard, CA | $129,900 |
| San Diego, CA | $127,300 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $127,000 |
| Salinas, CA | $126,500 |
| Redding, CA | $126,200 |
| Visalia, CA | $124,000 |
| Yuba City, CA | $123,700 |
| Riverside, CA | $110,000 |
| Modesto, CA | $110,000 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for electrical engineers.
| 1. New Mexico | $158,500 |
| 2. California | $144,000 |
| 3. District of Columbia | $143,000 |
| 4. New Hampshire | $135,700 |
| 5. Washington | $132,700 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an electrical engineer make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $69.25 ($144,000 a year).
Do electrical engineers make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $144,000 against $120,600 nationally, 19% more.
Where does California rank for electrical engineer pay?
California ranks 2 of 49 states.
Which city in California pays electrical engineers the most?
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA, with a median of $187,100 a year.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.